Fiber Optic Initiative

As the condition of our current incumbent’s infrastructure is unable to meet our community’s needs, the City of Red Wing has been exploring a Fiber-to-the-Premise project with a goal of improved connectivity for our schools and government facilities along with enhanced economic development capabilities and services to all businesses and homes in Red Wing.

The City of Red Wing has been involved with fiber optic connectivity for the past decade. In the late 1990’s, the City partnered with Goodhue County to interconnect City Hall, County Offices, the Red Wing Library, the Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Port Authority, and eventually Red Wing Public Works with fiber optics. 

 In 2004 the City and the Red Wing School District began discussions on how remote Public Works facilities and neighborhood schools might benefit from a robust fiber optic connection. The Red Wing School District was unable to meet state mandates for online testing due to the inadequate systems employed by current incumbents. As a result the decision to establish a critical “fiber loop” that could reasonably be extended to a Fiber-to-the-Premise initiative was researched.  

******************************************************************************************************************************************* 

Project Time Line
  • April 15, 2010 public meeting date set for 6:00 p.m. May 17, 2010 
  • April 12, 2010 update to city council and request pubic meeting 
  • March 30, 2010 fiber staff committee meeting to discuss next steps - notes from meeting 
  • February 22, 2010 
  • February 16, 2010
    • CNN visited to examine the region’s efforts to implement an advanced telecommunications connectivity through a fiber to the home network.  CNN also wanted to take a closer look at Hiawatha Broadband Communications, Inc., and its failed application for first-round funding from the broadband component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, and examine opportunities lost. More on the story here.
  • February 9, 2010
  • January 25, 2010
    • The City of Red Wing was informed on Monday, January 25, 2010 that Hiawatha Broadband Communications did not receive stimulus dollars requested to build a fiber optic network.  The application was for a $20 million project that would serve both Lake City, Red Wing and the surrounding townships.  Myron White, Executive Director of the Red Wing Port Authority commented "One of the strategies of the City's fiber to the home initiative is to make Red Wing more attractive to entrepreneurs and to incubate business."
  • April 27, 2009
  • March 13, 2009
    • Letter to Senator Amy Klobuchar
  • March 9, 2009
    • Memo regarding application for federal stimulus 
  • January 2009
    • Presentation by Myron White, Executive Director of the Red Wing Port Authority   
  • October 2008

    • ************************************************************************************************************************************************ 

    Helpful links:

    What's Happening With Minnesota Broadband - article by Ann Treacy with some great links

    Broadband USA  The portal to apply for broadband funding under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009

    National Telecommunications and Information Administration  

 

Minnesota Ultra High-Speed Bandwidth Report - Fall 2009